Post-Merger Skydance Keeping Both HBO Max & Paramount+ Streaming Brands

More indication that the newly-christened combined Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery company would bundle the two flagship streamers, Paramount+ and HBO Max, instead of merging them into one.

The video released earlier today by Paramount CEO David Ellison to announce that the new company will carry the name of his old one, Skydance, ended with a slide featuring the new moniker surrounded by what were positioned as the key, most valuable brands of the merged company. It included the logos of Paramount, Warner Bros., DC, CBS, CNN, Nickelodeon, as well as both HBO Max and Paramount+.

Since Paramount was already represented, also including Paramount+ feels intentional, along with the choice of HBO Max vs. the legacy HBO brand.

Paramount (which will become Skydance on Oct. 6 when the WBD acquisition closes) is yet to officially confirm how it will combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into a streaming operation expected to be overseen by Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content.

Asked yesterday whether the two platforms, which are considered pretty complimentary in their offerings, would be bundled vs. fully integrated, he hinted that a bundle may be the way to go.

“I don’t want to comment on what is going to happen or anything like that, but I would point to the HBO Max-Disney bundle, which has been very successful,” he said, adding, “So, could you see something like that happening? That would make a lot of sense.”

Both streaming brands making Skydance’s MVP list would seem to support that idea too.